In a big statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday (Feb 9) said that efforts are being made to ban India and other partners from purchasing Russian oil. Lavrov directly named the United States, at a time when India and the US signed a trade deal with Trump claiming that India has assured it will stop the purchase of Russian oil. He accused Washington of using "coercive" measures like tariffs, sanctions and direct prohibitions in order to achieve its goal of economic domination. The Russian Foreign Minister also spoke about Russia-Ukraine peace talks and linked it to the Russian oil.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-see-nothing-new-kremlin-breaks-silence-over-trump-s-statement-on-india-halting-russian-oil-purchases-1770257609418">Kremlin breaks silence over Trump’s statement on India halting Russian oil purchases</a>&nbsp;Speaking in an interview with TV BRICS, Lavrov said, "They (US) tell us that the Ukraine problem should be resolved. In Anchorage, we accepted the US Proposal... The US position was important to us. By accepting their proposal, we seem to have completed the task of resolving the Ukrainian issue and moving on to a dull-scale, broad-based and mutually beneficial cooperation. So far, the reality is quite the opposite. New sanctions are imposed, a 'war' against tankers in the open sea is being waged in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They are trying to ban India and our other partners from buying cheap, affordable Russian energy resources and are forcing them to buy US LNG at exorbitant prices." He also explained that while striking a peace deal, Moscow will also keep in mind that Washington is seeking to control its trade, investment cooperation, and military-technical ties with major strategic partners, such as India and other BRICS members."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-all-citizens-are-thanking-pm-modi-for-a-successful-trade-deal-piyush-goal-on-india-us-trade-agreement-1770119536603">'All citizens are thanking PM Modi for a successful trade deal': Piyush Goyal on India-US trade agreement</a>&nbsp;<h2>India's statement on Russian oil</h2>His statement comes after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that "national interest" would continue to guide India's energy-related decisions, underlining that the key drivers of the country's energy policy are “adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply.” He added that safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers remains a top priority for the government. Earlier on Sunday, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal clarified that India's decisions on Russian oil imports are taken solely by domestic buyers and are not dictated by the recently concluded India-US interim trade agreement framework, noting that it is in the country's "strategic interest" to diversify its energy sources. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also underlined that diversifying energy sourcing in line with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics remains central to India's strategy to ensure energy security for its population of 1.4 billion.<h2>India-US trade deal</h2>Prime Minister Modi confirmed the trade deal with the United States on Monday (Feb 2) and appreciated President Donald Trump’s leadership, terming it “vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity.” Trump claimed that India will stop buying Russian oil as the part of the deal. India or PM Modi has not commented on it yet. Trump, who had imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports late last year and later doubled the tariffs on India to 50 per cent punishing Delhi for buying oil from Russia, reduced the tariffs to 18 per cent. Releasing a statement on the deal on Feb 9, the White House called the deal “historic,” and mentioned key points of the deal. Notably, it did not mention anything concrete on India’s Russian oil purchase, and the sole mention of it was in form of a summary of the phone call between Trump and PM Modi. It said that the US "agreed to remove the additional 25% tariff on imports from India in recognition of India’s commitment to stop purchasing Russian Federation oil.”

Russia’s FM Sergei Lavrov accused the US of coercive tactics to block India and others from buying cheap Russian oil, citing sanctions and tanker pressure. India reiterated energy decisions are guided by national interest amid claims linked to the India-US trade deal.

In a big statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday (Feb 9) said that efforts are being made to ban India and other partners from purchasing Russian oil. Lavrov directly named the United States, at a time when India and the US signed a trade deal with Trump claiming that India has assured it will stop the purchase of Russian oil. He accused Washington of using "coercive" measures like tariffs, sanctions and direct prohibitions in order to achieve its goal of economic domination. The Russian Foreign Minister also spoke about Russia-Ukraine peace talks and linked it to the Russian oil. Also Read: Kremlin breaks silence over Trump’s statement on India halting Russian oil purchases Speaking in an interview with TV BRICS, Lavrov said, "They (US) tell us that the Ukraine problem should be resolved. In Anchorage, we accepted the US Proposal... The US position was important to us. By accepting their proposal, we seem to have completed the task of resolving the Ukrainian issue and moving on to a dull-scale, broad-based and mutually beneficial cooperation. So far, the reality is quite the opposite. New sanctions are imposed, a 'war' against tankers in the open sea is being waged in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They are trying to ban India and our other partners from buying cheap, affordable Russian energy resources and are forcing them to buy US LNG at exorbitant prices." He also explained that while striking a peace deal, Moscow will also keep in mind that Washington is seeking to control its trade, investment cooperation, and military-technical ties with major strategic partners, such as India and other BRICS members." Also Read: 'All citizens are thanking PM Modi for a successful trade deal': Piyush Goyal on India-US trade agreement India's statement on Russian oil His statement comes after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that "national interest" would continue to guide India's energy-related decisions, underlining that the key drivers of the country's energy policy are “adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply.” He added that safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers remains a top priority for the government. Earlier on Sunday, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal clarified that India's decisions on Russian oil imports are taken solely by domestic buyers and are not dictated by the recently concluded India-US interim trade agreement framework, noting that it is in the country's "strategic interest" to diversify its energy sources. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also underlined that diversifying energy sourcing in line with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics remains central to India's strategy to ensure energy security for its population of 1.4 billion. India-US trade deal Prime Minister Modi confirmed the trade deal with the United States on Monday (Feb 2) and appreciated President Donald Trump’s leadership, terming it “vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity.” Trump claimed that India will stop buying Russian oil as the part of the deal. India or PM Modi has not commented on it yet. Trump, who had imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports late last year and later doubled the tariffs on India to 50 per cent punishing Delhi for buying oil from Russia, reduced the tariffs to 18 per cent. Releasing a statement on the deal on Feb 9, the White House called the deal “historic,” and mentioned key points of the deal. Notably, it did not mention anything concrete on India’s Russian oil purchase, and the sole mention of it was in form of a summary of the phone call between Trump and PM Modi. It said that the US "agreed to remove the additional 25% tariff on imports from India in recognition of India’s commitment to stop purchasing Russian Federation oil.”

Russia’s FM Sergei Lavrov accused the US of coercive tactics to block India and others from buying cheap Russian oil, citing sanctions and tanker pressure. India reiterated energy decisions are guided by national interest amid claims linked to the India-US trade deal.

'Trying to ban India...': Moscow's BIG allegation on US amid uncertainty over Russian oil purchase after Washington's trade deal

The USSR vetoed the resolution, blocking attempts to force an Indian withdrawal. According to Stanford archival material, Soviet President Mr. Khrushchev sent a telegram to Mr. Nehru calling India’s position and actions “absolutely lawful and justified."

India–Russia Summit 2025: How Soviet's UN support helped India liberate Goa

That crisis which was born from the humanitarian catastrophe in East Pakistan and the massive refugee influx into India not only tested New Delhi’s diplomacy but also defence preparedness on an unmatched scale.

India–Russia summit 2025: When Russia helped India in the war against Pakistan in 1971

India–Russia ties, developed since the Soviet era, continue to be one of the most stable strategic partnerships in the world. It is shaped by cooperation in defence, energy trade, and mutual diplomatic support. Here is a detailed look


UNBROKEN: As Putin visits India, here are at all the times Russia and India stood by each other, from Soviet era till now

On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held high-level bilateral discussions. The talks focused on strengthening strategic cooperation, defense ties, energy partnerships, and regional stability.

SCO summit 2025: PM Modi- President Putin hold bilateral talks on sidelines 

Russia is looking to hire more Indian workers as it is currently dealing with a labour shortage, India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told Russian news agency TASS on Saturday. He stressed the need for manpower in Moscow and noted that India has skilled manpower. Kumar said that the Russian machinery and electronics industries are hiring Indians.&nbsp;"At a broader level, there is a manpower requirement in Russia, and India has skilled manpower. So at present, within the Russian regulations, framework of Russian regulations, laws and quotas, the companies are hiring Indians," Kumar said. &nbsp;&nbsp;He said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing.&nbsp;"Most of the people who have come are in the construction and textile sector, but the number of people interested in hiring Indians in the machinery and electronics segments is growing," the Indian envoy said. &nbsp;&nbsp;"When people come and leave, they need consular services to extend passports, childbirth, say for example, and loss of passport, and those kinds, basically consular services," he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;Moreover, the Indian embassy and consulates are starting to deal with the hike in incoming workers by opening a new Consulate General in Yekaterinburg.&nbsp;Notably, the number of Indian workers has surged in Russia in recent years, with 5,480 getting work permits in 2021 to 36,208 in 2024, according to think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF).<h2>India hits back at Trump tariffs</h2>India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar also hit back at Trump tariffs, saying that India will continue buying oil from wherever it gets the "best deal" and "take measures" to protect its national interest. &nbsp;&nbsp;Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability.&nbsp;This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he later doubled, making it a total of 50 per cent, citing several reasons, including India buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine.&nbsp;"First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is energy security of 1.4 billion people of India and India's cooperation with Russia, as of several other countries, has helped to bring about stability in the global oil market. So the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unjustified," he told TASS.

The envoy said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing.

Russia is looking to hire more Indian workers as it is currently dealing with a labour shortage, India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told Russian news agency TASS on Saturday. He stressed the need for manpower in Moscow and noted that India has skilled manpower. Kumar said that the Russian machinery and electronics industries are hiring Indians. "At a broader level, there is a manpower requirement in Russia, and India has skilled manpower. So at present, within the Russian regulations, framework of Russian regulations, laws and quotas, the companies are hiring Indians," Kumar said. He said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing. "Most of the people who have come are in the construction and textile sector, but the number of people interested in hiring Indians in the machinery and electronics segments is growing," the Indian envoy said. "When people come and leave, they need consular services to extend passports, childbirth, say for example, and loss of passport, and those kinds, basically consular services," he added. Moreover, the Indian embassy and consulates are starting to deal with the hike in incoming workers by opening a new Consulate General in Yekaterinburg. Notably, the number of Indian workers has surged in Russia in recent years, with 5,480 getting work permits in 2021 to 36,208 in 2024, according to think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF). India hits back at Trump tariffs India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar also hit back at Trump tariffs, saying that India will continue buying oil from wherever it gets the "best deal" and "take measures" to protect its national interest. Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he later doubled, making it a total of 50 per cent, citing several reasons, including India buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine. "First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is energy security of 1.4 billion people of India and India's cooperation with Russia, as of several other countries, has helped to bring about stability in the global oil market. So the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unjustified," he told TASS.

The envoy said that most Indians in Russia are working in the construction and textile sectors, adding that demand is, however, increasing.

Indian manpower needed in Russia? Moscow seeks to hire Indians amid need of skilled workers

Amid the ongoing tensions between India and the US over purchase of Russian oil, India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar said that New Delhi will continue buying oil from wherever it gets the "best deal" and "take measures" to protect its national interest. &nbsp;The Indian envoy was speaking during an interview with TASS on Sunday, when he said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens.This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he later doubled, making it a total of 50 per cent, citing several reasons, including India buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine.Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability."First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is energy security of 1.4 billion people of India and India's cooperation with Russia, as of several other countries, has helped to bring about stability in the oil market, global oil market. So the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unjustified," he told TASS."Now government will continue taking measures which will protect the national interest of the country," the envoy said.He stressed that the trade takes place on a commercial basis, adding that if the basis of commercial transaction trade imports are right, Indian companies will continue buying from where they get the "best deal". "So that's what the current situation is," he said.Saying that not just India, the US and Europe also trade with Russia, the envoy said, "Our trade is based on market factors and done with the overall object of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India."After Trump imposed tariffs on India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the US's move "unjustified and unreasonable".&nbsp;

Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability.

Amid the ongoing tensions between India and the US over purchase of Russian oil, India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar said that New Delhi will continue buying oil from wherever it gets the "best deal" and "take measures" to protect its national interest. The Indian envoy was speaking during an interview with TASS on Sunday, when he said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he later doubled, making it a total of 50 per cent, citing several reasons, including India buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine. Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability. "First of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is energy security of 1.4 billion people of India and India's cooperation with Russia, as of several other countries, has helped to bring about stability in the oil market, global oil market. So the US decision is unfair, unreasonable and unjustified," he told TASS. "Now government will continue taking measures which will protect the national interest of the country," the envoy said. He stressed that the trade takes place on a commercial basis, adding that if the basis of commercial transaction trade imports are right, Indian companies will continue buying from where they get the "best deal". "So that's what the current situation is," he said. Saying that not just India, the US and Europe also trade with Russia, the envoy said, "Our trade is based on market factors and done with the overall object of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India." After Trump imposed tariffs on India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the US's move "unjustified and unreasonable".

Calling it "unfair, unreasonable and unjustified", Kumar said that India's energy policy aims to secure reliable supplies for its citizens and that its cooperation with Russia and other countries has contributed to global oil market stability.

Will buy oil from wherever we get 'best deal': India hits back at Trump tariffs, calls it 'unfair, unjustified'

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (Aug 21). The two leaders discussed ways to expand India-Russia bilateral ties, The meeting was part of his three-day visit to Moscow for the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).&nbsp;Jaishankar also met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov and discussed bilateral ties between the two nations, covering a range of topics. The visit comes amid the recent tariffs threats by US President Donald Trump, who imposed additional 25 per cent duties on New Delhi, on top of earlier 25 per cent, citing Russian oil purchase.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India&#39;s external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow <a href="https://t.co/UaJmcNx4mb">pic.twitter.com/UaJmcNx4mb</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1958530711775817870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Following his meeting with the Russian president, Jaishankar wrote on X, “Honored to call on President Putin at the Kremlin today. Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu &amp; Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”&nbsp;“Apprised him of my discussions with First DPM Denis Manturov &amp; FM Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the Annual Leaders Summit are well underway,” he added. “Appreciate his sharing perspectives on the global situation and recent developments on Ukraine.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Honored to call on President Putin at the Kremlin today. Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu &amp; Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>. Apprised him of my discussions with First DPM Denis Manturov &amp; FM Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the Annual Leaders Summit are… <a href="https://t.co/jJuqynYrlX">pic.twitter.com/jJuqynYrlX</a>&mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1958546530094424447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Jaishankar meets Lavrov</h2>During the press conference with Lavrov, Jaishankar said that India and Russia ties are among the steadiest in the aftermath of the Second World War.“We believe that relations between India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War,” he said. “Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers.”Following his meet with Lavrov, Jaishankar wrote on X, “Had a detailed discussion on our bilateral ties, including trade, investment, energy, fertilizers, health, skilling &amp; mobility, defense, and people to people exchanges.” He added, “We exchanged views on Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. Also spoke about our cooperation in UN, G20, SCO and BRICS. Our meeting helped prepare the outcomes and decisions for the Annual Summit later this year.”<h2>Visit to Moscow amid Trump’s tariff threats</h2>Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow comes amid the looming US tariff threats on India. Trump initially announced 25 per cent trade duties on India, citing trade deficit with India. But earlier this month, he imposed additional 25 per cent levies over New Delhi’s purchase of oil from Russia in a bid to pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.While Trump has said that countries buying Russian crude are fueling the war, he has not imposed any penalties on China, which is the latest buyer of oil from Moscow.Watch | EAM Jaishankar wraps up Moscow visit, calls for stronger India-Russia trade tieshttps://www.wionews.com/videos/eam-jaishankar-wraps-up-moscow-visit-calls-for-stronger-india-russia-trade-ties-1755772147305/embed

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (Aug 21) during his three-day visit to Moscow. He also met with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and held discussions on bilateral ties of India and Russia.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (Aug 21). The two leaders discussed ways to expand India-Russia bilateral ties, The meeting was part of his three-day visit to Moscow for the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). Jaishankar also met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov and discussed bilateral ties between the two nations, covering a range of topics. The visit comes amid the recent tariffs threats by US President Donald Trump, who imposed additional 25 per cent duties on New Delhi, on top of earlier 25 per cent, citing Russian oil purchase.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (Aug 21) during his three-day visit to Moscow. He also met with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and held discussions on bilateral ties of India and Russia.

Indian EAM S Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow amid Trump’s tariff threats over Russian oil purchase

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday (August 21) hit back at the Trump tariff war, stressing that India is not the biggest buyer of Russian oil. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine.Jaishankar, during his visit to Russia, expressed that he was "perplexed" as India's purchase of oil from the US had in fact increased.Speaking during a press conference with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar said that China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil, not India.He added that India is not the country that has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022."We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil; that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG; that is the European Union. We are not the country that has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the South," he said."We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument that you had referred to," he added.Jaishankar and Lavrov also exchanged views on &nbsp;Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. They also spoke about the cooperation in the UN, G20, SCO and BRICS.India's external affairs minister further reaffirmed the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, including by increasing India's exports to Russia."This requires swiftly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments, enhancing India's exports to Russia in sectors like agriculture, pharma, and textiles will certainly help correct the imbalance...," he said.

Jaishankar addressed Trump tariff war, saying that India is not the biggest buyer of Russian oil, but China is. He further said that he was perplexed" as India's purchase of oil from the US had surged.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday (August 21) hit back at the Trump tariff war, stressing that India is not the biggest buyer of Russian oil. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine. Jaishankar, during his visit to Russia, expressed that he was "perplexed" as India's purchase of oil from the US had in fact increased. Speaking during a press conference with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar said that China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil, not India. He added that India is not the country that has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022. "We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil; that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG; that is the European Union. We are not the country that has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the South," he said. "We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument that you had referred to," he added. Jaishankar and Lavrov also exchanged views on Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. They also spoke about the cooperation in the UN, G20, SCO and BRICS. India's external affairs minister further reaffirmed the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, including by increasing India's exports to Russia. "This requires swiftly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments, enhancing India's exports to Russia in sectors like agriculture, pharma, and textiles will certainly help correct the imbalance...," he said.

Jaishankar addressed Trump tariff war, saying that India is not the biggest buyer of Russian oil, but China is. He further said that he was perplexed" as India's purchase of oil from the US had surged.

'India not biggest buyer of Russian oil': Jaishankar hits back at Trump tariff during Moscow visit

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday (August 21) met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed political and economic relations amid the ongoing Trump trade war.&nbsp;In a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar lauded the India-Russia relationship, saying it has been the steadiest of major relationships. &nbsp;&nbsp;"India and Russia have been the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War," Jaishankar said.<h2>Expand bilateral trade</h2>India's external affairs minister further reaffirmed the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, including by increasing India's exports to Russia.&nbsp;"This requires swiftly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments, enhancing India's exports to Russia in sectors like agriculture, pharma, and textiles will certainly help correct the imbalance...," he said.&nbsp;While addressing regional issues, Jaishankar said that he discussed developments in Ukraine, West Asia, the Middle East and Afghanistan.&nbsp;"India's approach continues to emphasise dialogue and diplomacy as essential to resolving differences," he said during the presser.&nbsp;Jaishankar further brought up the issue of Indians serving in the Russian Army. He said many have been released, while there are still some pending cases, with some missing persons. "We hope that the Russian side will expediously resolve this."&nbsp;<h2>Russia supports 'Make in India'</h2>Jaishankar said that Russia supports India's Make in India goals, including joint production.&nbsp;He noted the importance of sustaining energy cooperation between the two nations through trade and investments."Our defence and military technical cooperation also remains robust. Russia supports India's 'Make in India' goals, including joint production and technology transfer," the EAM added.&nbsp;Jaishankar is currently on a three-day visit to Moscow. It comes amid a looming tariff threat by US President Donald Trump over the import of Russian oil.&nbsp;

India's EAM Jaishankar on Thursday met his Russian counterpart Lavrov. He reaffirmed the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, while lauding India, Russia ties.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday (August 21) met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed political and economic relations amid the ongoing Trump trade war. In a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar lauded the India-Russia relationship, saying it has been the steadiest of major relationships. "India and Russia have been the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War," Jaishankar said. Expand bilateral trade India's external affairs minister further reaffirmed the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, including by increasing India's exports to Russia. "This requires swiftly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments, enhancing India's exports to Russia in sectors like agriculture, pharma, and textiles will certainly help correct the imbalance...," he said. While addressing regional issues, Jaishankar said that he discussed developments in Ukraine, West Asia, the Middle East and Afghanistan. "India's approach continues to emphasise dialogue and diplomacy as essential to resolving differences," he said during the presser. Jaishankar further brought up the issue of Indians serving in the Russian Army. He said many have been released, while there are still some pending cases, with some missing persons. "We hope that the Russian side will expediously resolve this." Russia supports 'Make in India' Jaishankar said that Russia supports India's Make in India goals, including joint production. He noted the importance of sustaining energy cooperation between the two nations through trade and investments. "Our defence and military technical cooperation also remains robust. Russia supports India's 'Make in India' goals, including joint production and technology transfer," the EAM added. Jaishankar is currently on a three-day visit to Moscow. It comes amid a looming tariff threat by US President Donald Trump over the import of Russian oil.

India's EAM Jaishankar on Thursday met his Russian counterpart Lavrov. He reaffirmed the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, while lauding India, Russia ties.

India-Russia relations 'most stable' after WWII: Jaishankar meets Russian FM Lavrov amid looming Trump tariff threats

Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Wednesday (Aug 20) highlighted a major trade imbalance with Russia, which has increased by nine times, during his opening remarks at the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) in Moscow. Jaishankar said that while the bilateral trade between the two nations has increased, this issue needs to be addressed “urgently”.The foreign minister said that the trade has increased more than fivefold from $13 billion in 2021 to $68 billion in 2024-25. However, the trade imbalance has increased from $6.6 billion to $58.9 billion.<h2>Trade imbalance increased nine times</h2>“Over the last four years, Excellency, our bilateral trade in goods has increased, as you have noted, more than five-fold from USD 13 billion in 2021 to USD 68 billion in 2024-25 and it continues to grow,” he said.Jaishankar added, “However, a major trade imbalance has accompanied the growth; it has increased from USD 6.6 billion to USD 58.9 billion, which is about nine times. So we need to address that urgently.”<h2>Agenda for IRIGC-TEC</h2>He further talked about some of the salient features of the agenda that will be discussed between the two countries during his visit. The key elements include tariff, non-tariff barriers, enhancing logistics, effective payment mechanisms, and promoting connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route and the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor.“They will not only help to address the imbalance and grow our trade, but also hasten the timely achievement of our revised trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030,” he said.<h2>Visit comes amid Trump’s tariff threats</h2>Jaishankar’s visit comes amid recent tariff threats by US President Donald Trump, who doubled the tariffs on India to 50 per cent, citing the purchase of Russian oil amid the war in Ukraine. Initially, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, but further imposed an additional 25 per cent duties on New Delhi’s Russian oil purchase.

Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar flagged that trade imbalance between India and Russia has increased by nine times. He adde that the issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Wednesday (Aug 20) highlighted a major trade imbalance with Russia, which has increased by nine times, during his opening remarks at the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) in Moscow. Jaishankar said that while the bilateral trade between the two nations has increased, this issue needs to be addressed “urgently”. The foreign minister said that the trade has increased more than fivefold from $13 billion in 2021 to $68 billion in 2024-25. However, the trade imbalance has increased from $6.6 billion to $58.9 billion. Trade imbalance increased nine times “Over the last four years, Excellency, our bilateral trade in goods has increased, as you have noted, more than five-fold from USD 13 billion in 2021 to USD 68 billion in 2024-25 and it continues to grow,” he said. Jaishankar added, “However, a major trade imbalance has accompanied the growth; it has increased from USD 6.6 billion to USD 58.9 billion, which is about nine times. So we need to address that urgently.” Agenda for IRIGC-TEC He further talked about some of the salient features of the agenda that will be discussed between the two countries during his visit. The key elements include tariff, non-tariff barriers, enhancing logistics, effective payment mechanisms, and promoting connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route and the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor. “They will not only help to address the imbalance and grow our trade, but also hasten the timely achievement of our revised trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030,” he said. Visit comes amid Trump’s tariff threats Jaishankar’s visit comes amid recent tariff threats by US President Donald Trump, who doubled the tariffs on India to 50 per cent, citing the purchase of Russian oil amid the war in Ukraine. Initially, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, but further imposed an additional 25 per cent duties on New Delhi’s Russian oil purchase.

Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar flagged that the trade imbalance between India and Russia has increased by nine times. He added that the issue needs to be addressed urgently.

India-Russia trade imbalance soared nine times: Indian EAM Jaishankar says need to address issue ‘urgently’

Amid talks of ending the Russia-Ukraine war, India's oil purchase from Russia has again made headlines. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro alleged that India's 'financial support' is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine. Navarro, who is instrumental in imposing the reciprocal tariffs on countries in escalating Trump's trade war, criticised India for purchasing Russian energy and defence equipment. He also warned that the US will hit "Delhi where it hurts.”&nbsp;In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, Navarro termed India’s oil trade with Russia “opportunistic” and “corrosive” to global efforts being made to isolate the Russian economy amid war with Ukraine. He also said that India was using dollars earned from trade with America to buy Russian oil, blaming New Delhi for "high tariffs." He also blamed the Biden administration for looking the other way and said that Trump administration is "confronting" the "geopolitical madness." He also claimed that crude oil imports from Russia after 2022 was not for meeting domestic consumption and that Indian refiners for “profiteering” by purchasing Russian discounted oil and exporting the processed petroleum products to Europe, Africa and Asia. “This two-pronged policy will hit India where it hurts — its access to US markets — even as it seeks to cut off the financial lifeline it has extended to Russia’s war effort,” Navarro said. “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.” Navarro also accused India of “cosying up to both Russia and China.”&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/independence-day-2025-pm-narendra-modi-s-big-message-to-us-amid-trump-s-tariff-trade-war-50-percent-tariff-1755228508072">'Modi standing like a wall...': PM's BOLD message to US on Independence Day amid Trump's tariff war</a> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/s-jaishankar-wang-yi-meet-important-that-de-escalation-on-border-continues-1755571468830/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/s-jaishankar-wang-yi-meet-important-that-de-escalation-on-border-continues-1755571468830/embed</a><h2>Trump's trade war and India's response&nbsp;</h2>In continuation of ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs of April 2, Trump issued an executive order on July 31 that imposed modified tariffs on its trading partners, citing an ongoing national emergency. The US had paused the April 2 tariffs, giving countries a window of 90 days to sign a trade deal with America. In the new tariffs, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India. Trump then announced an additional tariff of 25 per cent on India for buying Russian oil and warned about doing the same with other nations.&nbsp;In a statement published Aug 4, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, "India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation." “However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” it added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, in what seemed to be a response to Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he won't compromise the interests of farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen of his country, even if he has to pay a price for it. He echoed the same sentiments in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15. “Modi will stand like a wall against any move that harms them,” he said. Delivering a strong message, he reaffirmed his government's commitment to protecting the interests of India's agricultural community. &nbsp;

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has doubled down on his attack on India for purchasing Russian oil and has criticised New Delhi for cosying up to China and Russia. He has claimed that India's purchase of crude oil may be funding the war against Ukraine

Amid talks of ending the Russia-Ukraine war, India's oil purchase from Russia has again made headlines. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro alleged that India's 'financial support' is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine. Navarro, who is instrumental in imposing the reciprocal tariffs on countries in escalating Trump's trade war, criticised India for purchasing Russian energy and defence equipment. He also warned that the US will hit "Delhi where it hurts.” In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, Navarro termed India’s oil trade with Russia “opportunistic” and “corrosive” to global efforts being made to isolate the Russian economy amid war with Ukraine. He also said that India was using dollars earned from trade with America to buy Russian oil, blaming New Delhi for "high tariffs." He also blamed the Biden administration for looking the other way and said that Trump administration is "confronting" the "geopolitical madness." He also claimed that crude oil imports from Russia after 2022 was not for meeting domestic consumption and that Indian refiners for “profiteering” by purchasing Russian discounted oil and exporting the processed petroleum products to Europe, Africa and Asia. “This two-pronged policy will hit India where it hurts — its access to US markets — even as it seeks to cut off the financial lifeline it has extended to Russia’s war effort,” Navarro said. “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.” Navarro also accused India of “cosying up to both Russia and China.” Read More | 'Modi standing like a wall...': PM's BOLD message to US on Independence Day amid Trump's tariff war https://www.wionews.com/videos/s-jaishankar-wang-yi-meet-important-that-de-escalation-on-border-continues-1755571468830/embed Trump's trade war and India's response In continuation of ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs of April 2, Trump issued an executive order on July 31 that imposed modified tariffs on its trading partners, citing an ongoing national emergency. The US had paused the April 2 tariffs, giving countries a window of 90 days to sign a trade deal with America. In the new tariffs, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India. Trump then announced an additional tariff of 25 per cent on India for buying Russian oil and warned about doing the same with other nations. In a statement published Aug 4, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, "India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation." “However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” it added. Meanwhile, in what seemed to be a response to Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he won't compromise the interests of farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen of his country, even if he has to pay a price for it. He echoed the same sentiments in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15. “Modi will stand like a wall against any move that harms them,” he said. Delivering a strong message, he reaffirmed his government's commitment to protecting the interests of India's agricultural community.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has doubled down on his attack on India for purchasing Russian oil and has criticised New Delhi for cosying up to China and Russia. He has claimed that India's purchase of crude oil may be funding the war against Ukraine

India's oil purchase from Russia funding Ukraine war? Trump's aide makes sensational allegations

Russia has officially delivered the INS Tamal, the eighth warship built under Project 11356, to the Indian Navy. The handover ceremony took place at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad on July 2, as confirmed on the shipyard’s official website. INS Tamal has successfully completed its sea trials, which were closely monitored by a team from India. This ship is the second of the Tushil-class frigates that India is adding to its fleet. These new warships are part of India’s long-term plan to strengthen its naval presence in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;One of the notable aspects of this delivery is the ship’s engine. INS Tamal is powered by M7N gas turbines, which are made in Ukraine by a company called Zorya-Mashproekt, based in the city of Mykolaiv. Despite the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, these engines were still used in the vessel’s construction and delivery. The engines used in INS Tamal were supplied to India by Ukraine’s state-owned defense company, Ukroboronprom, well before the recent phase of the Russia-Ukraine war began.&nbsp;The ship was first started on November 15, 2013, and was originally named Admiral Istomin. It was initially being built for the Russian Navy. But things changed after Russia’s 2014 takeover of Crimea. In response, Ukraine stopped all military exports to Russia—including the supply of gas turbine engines—leaving Russia without access to the Ukrainian-made parts for its own ships.By 2017, Russia had suggested that it might finish the ship for its own Black Sea Fleet by using a different type of engine. However, according to United24media.com, that plan was quietly dropped and never moved forward.&nbsp;Instead, in 2018, Russia and India signed a government-to-government deal. As part of this agreement, two unfinished Russian warships—Admiral Istomin and Admiral Butakov—would be completed and handed over to the Indian Navy. Construction of the ship, now renamed INS Tamal, officially resumed in 2019, this time under India’s ownership and flag.The ship’s hull was first launched in November 2017, mainly to clear space at the shipyard and free up the slipway for other work. However, the frigate was officially re-launched in 2024 to begin its final phase of construction and fitting out—this time specifically for the Indian Navy.INS Tamal is expected to officially join the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command in September 2025. It will take part in patrolling duties across the Indian Ocean to help strengthen maritime security.&nbsp;Once all ships are completed, the Indian Navy will have a total of ten frigates built under Project 11356. Out of these, two more are currently being built in India and are likely to be ready for service by the end of 2026. Project 11356 frigates come with a powerful set of weapons designed to handle different threats at sea. These include:&nbsp;Eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which can hit both land and sea targets from as far as 300 kilometers away. 24 surface-to-air missiles launched vertically through the Shtil-1 air defense system, used to protect the ship from enemy aircraft and missiles. A 100mm A-190E naval gun for long-range surface targets, along with six AK-630 close-in weapon systems, which act as a last line of defense against incoming missiles and drones. RBU-6000 rocket launchers and 533mm torpedo tubes, both used to detect and destroy enemy submarines hidden underwater. Together, these weapons make the frigates well-prepared to defend themselves and strike targets on land, at sea, in the air, and under the water.&nbsp;Earlier, India made a major shift in its defense strategy by moving away from relying heavily on Russian weapons. Instead, it signed a $7.4 billion deal with France to buy 26 Rafale fighter jets for use by the Navy. This move shows that India is now strengthening its defense ties with Western countries and choosing more advanced equipment from Western suppliers.

Russia has delivered the INS Tamal, the eighth warship built under Project 11356, to the Indian Navy. INS Tamal has successfully completed its sea trials, which were closely monitored by a team from India. This ship is the second of the Tushil-class frigates that India is adding to its fleet.

Russia has officially delivered the INS Tamal, the eighth warship built under Project 11356, to the Indian Navy. The handover ceremony took place at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad on July 2, as confirmed on the shipyard’s official website. INS Tamal has successfully completed its sea trials, which were closely monitored by a team from India. This ship is the second of the Tushil-class frigates that India is adding to its fleet. These new warships are part of India’s long-term plan to strengthen its naval presence in the Indian Ocean. One of the notable aspects of this delivery is the ship’s engine. INS Tamal is powered by M7N gas turbines, which are made in Ukraine by a company called Zorya-Mashproekt, based in the city of Mykolaiv. Despite the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, these engines were still used in the vessel’s construction and delivery. The engines used in INS Tamal were supplied to India by Ukraine’s state-owned defense company, Ukroboronprom, well before the recent phase of the Russia-Ukraine war began. The ship was first started on November 15, 2013, and was originally named Admiral Istomin. It was initially being built for the Russian Navy. But things changed after Russia’s 2014 takeover of Crimea. In response, Ukraine stopped all military exports to Russia—including the supply of gas turbine engines—leaving Russia without access to the Ukrainian-made parts for its own ships. By 2017, Russia had suggested that it might finish the ship for its own Black Sea Fleet by using a different type of engine. However, according to United24media.com, that plan was quietly dropped and never moved forward. Instead, in 2018, Russia and India signed a government-to-government deal. As part of this agreement, two unfinished Russian warships—Admiral Istomin and Admiral Butakov—would be completed and handed over to the Indian Navy. Construction of the ship, now renamed INS Tamal, officially resumed in 2019, this time under India’s ownership and flag. The ship’s hull was first launched in November 2017, mainly to clear space at the shipyard and free up the slipway for other work. However, the frigate was officially re-launched in 2024 to begin its final phase of construction and fitting out—this time specifically for the Indian Navy. INS Tamal is expected to officially join the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command in September 2025. It will take part in patrolling duties across the Indian Ocean to help strengthen maritime security. Once all ships are completed, the Indian Navy will have a total of ten frigates built under Project 11356. Out of these, two more are currently being built in India and are likely to be ready for service by the end of 2026. Project 11356 frigates come with a powerful set of weapons designed to handle different threats at sea. These include: Eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which can hit both land and sea targets from as far as 300 kilometers away. 24 surface-to-air missiles launched vertically through the Shtil-1 air defense system, used to protect the ship from enemy aircraft and missiles. A 100mm A-190E naval gun for long-range surface targets, along with six AK-630 close-in weapon systems, which act as a last line of defense against incoming missiles and drones. RBU-6000 rocket launchers and 533mm torpedo tubes, both used to detect and destroy enemy submarines hidden underwater. Together, these weapons make the frigates well-prepared to defend themselves and strike targets on land, at sea, in the air, and under the water. Earlier, India made a major shift in its defense strategy by moving away from relying heavily on Russian weapons. Instead, it signed a $7.4 billion deal with France to buy 26 Rafale fighter jets for use by the Navy. This move shows that India is now strengthening its defense ties with Western countries and choosing more advanced equipment from Western suppliers.

Russia has delivered the INS Tamal, the eighth warship built under Project 11356, to the Indian Navy. INS Tamal has successfully completed its sea trials, which were closely monitored by a team from India. This ship is the second of the Tushil-class frigates that India is adding to its fleet.

The heart of the matter: Ukrainian engines drove INS Tamal to India, not Russia

The 22nd summit of the leaders of India and Russia–Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin–during the former’s visit to Moscow on 8 and 9 July 2024 should be best assessed through the prism of multipolarity. &nbsp;

<h2>Multipolarity, the backdrop</h2>

Today’s geopolitics is a series of continuing and complex interactions among several poles of power such as the US, EU, China, Russia, Japan, India, and the other important nations of the Global South. In this age of conflicts and competition, tensions and turbulence, the player that enjoys positive relations with most, if not all other players, has the chance to perform well in securing its national interest. This driving motivation keeps the India-Russian partnership strong and ticking, despite new challenges. Ironically, it is this aspect that many in the West fail to appreciate while hoping for and predicting (wrongly) a rift in this relationship. &nbsp;

Hence, the real significance of the Putin-Modi summit is that it took place. The last summit was held in New Delhi in December 2021, before the Ukraine conflict began. The last visit by PM Modi to Russia was in September 2019 for an economic forum meeting in Vladivostok. The last meeting between the two leaders took place in September 2022 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. &nbsp;

It was India's turn to be the guest at the annual summit with Russia, which could have been held in 2022 or 2023, but somehow the scheduling of dates and perhaps some diplomatic factors came in the way. Now, the first bilateral visit in Modi’s third term to Moscow assumed its own momentum. More importantly, both governments ensured that the summit was projected as more than just a mere routine meeting; it was organized creatively and was perceived as a vital summit of two friendly nations that have safeguarded their mutually beneficial partnership over seven decades. &nbsp;

<h2>Key facets &nbsp;</h2>

The build-up to the summit was marked by extensive commentary, analysis and media coverage focusing on what the two leaders – Modi and Putin – planned to discuss and achieve through their deliberations. The Russian side, rejoicing that the long-delayed summit was taking place after all, was first off the mark in disclosing the dates of the Modi visit. It reported a sense of concern and jealousy in American and European circles that Modi was set to re-visit Russia. As this summit coincided with the NATO summit hosted by the US in Washington on the same day, several Western experts opined that either India should shun meeting Putin or persuade him to seek a peace settlement with Ukraine immediately. Chinese scholars expressed the view that only the West, not China, felt insecure over the likely outcome of the Modi-Putin talks. &nbsp;

In this light, New Delhi insisted that the bilateral context of the Moscow summit was of utmost importance. India looks at its “relationship with Russia purely from a framework of reference of bilateral relationships,” observed Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra at his media briefing on 5 July. But he went on to stress that the visit would be an occasion to discuss “various areas of importance in bilateral engagement as also issues of regional and global importance of mutual interest and help broaden the scope of our partnership.” A discussion on the two nations’ membership of several multilateral groupings such as BRICS and SCO was also on the agenda. &nbsp;

<h2>The outcome &nbsp;</h2>

The results of informal discussions preceding the 22nd summit and the extensive dialogue at the summit itself have been reflected in three documents: the joint statement, the leaders’ statement on the development of strategic areas of economic cooperation for the period up to 2030, and the list of nine MoUs/Agreements signed. A close study of these documents presents five key takeaways, as below. &nbsp;

One, the overarching reality is one of an enduring and expanding relationship between India and Russia, which remain committed to the further development of the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” The two nations have been engaged in multi-faceted cooperation “in all possible areas of cooperation” and have been exploring “new avenues for cooperation while strengthening cooperation in traditional areas.” For this purpose, institutional links and mechanisms for dialogue will be reinforced in the future. An agreement was reached to convene the next annual summit in India in 2025. &nbsp;

Two, trade and economic partnership will receive more focused attention in the future. A $100 billion target for bilateral trade has been set up. An FTA on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as well as on services and investments will be pushed. A separate document – ‘Programme-2030’ – contains a broad action plan. Other objectives include continued discussion on a migration and mobility partnership agreement between India and Russia, and improved transport connectivity through the Chennai-Vladivostok (Eastern Maritime) Corridor, the International North-South Corridor, and using the potential of the Northern Sea Route. &nbsp;

Three, other important areas for higher cooperation in the coming years are energy partnership, civil nuclear and space cooperation, military and military-technical cooperation, and cooperation in education, and science and technology. &nbsp;

Four, cultural cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges will be further promoted proactively through multiple means. A shared motivation is “to promote a more contemporary understanding of both countries.” &nbsp;

Five, the two nations accept “the importance of reinvigorating multilateralism” and enhancing cooperation relating to the UN and numerous other multilateral organizations and groupings of which they are members. Notably, Russia reiterated its “steadfast support” for India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council. India’s expression of support for Russia’s ongoing presidency of BRICS implies that the two sides should be able to narrow/eliminate their differences on the expansion issue. The leaders stressed that as “major powers” India and Russia will continue “to strive for global peace in a multipolar world.” &nbsp;

<h2>Assessment &nbsp;</h2>

As was expected, Ukraine cast a shadow on the discussions in Moscow. The missile attack on a hospital in Kyiv and the killing of Ukrainian children on the day the summit began, created an awkward situation for the Indian side. Referring to the Modi-Putin meeting, President Volodymyr Zelensky observed, “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.” Despite this, India clearly conveyed its considered view to Russia that solutions to conflicts could not be found on the battlefield and that the only pathway was through dialogue and diplomacy. &nbsp;

The agreed goal to re-double efforts to expand and deepen bilateral economic cooperation makes much sense. An increase in trade rather than mere balancing is the desired way forward. However, governments will need to motivate and encourage business and industry to subscribe to this goal optimally. &nbsp;

Finally, on the strategic and diplomatic side, Russia has been somewhat wary about the deepening cooperation between India and the US, just as India has shown concern about the growing proximity between Russia and China. The Moscow summit indicates that the response by India and Russia to this complex phenomenon is to impart more substance and new momentum to their bilateral relations. From New Delhi’s perspective, the Moscow summit reflected India's ‘strategic autonomy’ in full play. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The 22nd summit of the leaders of India and Russia–Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin–during the former’s visit to Moscow on 8 and 9 July 2024 should be best assessed through the prism of multipolarity.

The 22nd summit of the leaders of India and Russia–Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin–during the former’s visit to Moscow on 8 and 9 July 2024 should be best assessed through the prism of multipolarity. Multipolarity, the backdrop Today’s geopolitics is a series of continuing and complex interactions among several poles of power such as the US, EU, China, Russia, Japan, India, and the other important nations of the Global South. In this age of conflicts and competition, tensions and turbulence, the player that enjoys positive relations with most, if not all other players, has the chance to perform well in securing its national interest. This driving motivation keeps the India-Russian partnership strong and ticking, despite new challenges. Ironically, it is this aspect that many in the West fail to appreciate while hoping for and predicting (wrongly) a rift in this relationship. Hence, the real significance of the Putin-Modi summit is that it took place. The last summit was held in New Delhi in December 2021, before the Ukraine conflict began. The last visit by PM Modi to Russia was in September 2019 for an economic forum meeting in Vladivostok. The last meeting between the two leaders took place in September 2022 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It was India's turn to be the guest at the annual summit with Russia, which could have been held in 2022 or 2023, but somehow the scheduling of dates and perhaps some diplomatic factors came in the way. Now, the first bilateral visit in Modi’s third term to Moscow assumed its own momentum. More importantly, both governments ensured that the summit was projected as more than just a mere routine meeting; it was organized creatively and was perceived as a vital summit of two friendly nations that have safeguarded their mutually beneficial partnership over seven decades. Key facets The build-up to the summit was marked by extensive commentary, analysis and media coverage focusing on what the two leaders – Modi and Putin – planned to discuss and achieve through their deliberations. The Russian side, rejoicing that the long-delayed summit was taking place after all, was first off the mark in disclosing the dates of the Modi visit. It reported a sense of concern and jealousy in American and European circles that Modi was set to re-visit Russia. As this summit coincided with the NATO summit hosted by the US in Washington on the same day, several Western experts opined that either India should shun meeting Putin or persuade him to seek a peace settlement with Ukraine immediately. Chinese scholars expressed the view that only the West, not China, felt insecure over the likely outcome of the Modi-Putin talks. In this light, New Delhi insisted that the bilateral context of the Moscow summit was of utmost importance. India looks at its “relationship with Russia purely from a framework of reference of bilateral relationships,” observed Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra at his media briefing on 5 July. But he went on to stress that the visit would be an occasion to discuss “various areas of importance in bilateral engagement as also issues of regional and global importance of mutual interest and help broaden the scope of our partnership.” A discussion on the two nations’ membership of several multilateral groupings such as BRICS and SCO was also on the agenda. The outcome The results of informal discussions preceding the 22nd summit and the extensive dialogue at the summit itself have been reflected in three documents: the joint statement, the leaders’ statement on the development of strategic areas of economic cooperation for the period up to 2030, and the list of nine MoUs/Agreements signed. A close study of these documents presents five key takeaways, as below. One, the overarching reality is one of an enduring and expanding relationship between India and Russia, which remain committed to the further development of the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” The two nations have been engaged in multi-faceted cooperation “in all possible areas of cooperation” and have been exploring “new avenues for cooperation while strengthening cooperation in traditional areas.” For this purpose, institutional links and mechanisms for dialogue will be reinforced in the future. An agreement was reached to convene the next annual summit in India in 2025. Two, trade and economic partnership will receive more focused attention in the future. A $100 billion target for bilateral trade has been set up. An FTA on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as well as on services and investments will be pushed. A separate document – ‘Programme-2030’ – contains a broad action plan. Other objectives include continued discussion on a migration and mobility partnership agreement between India and Russia, and improved transport connectivity through the Chennai-Vladivostok (Eastern Maritime) Corridor, the International North-South Corridor, and using the potential of the Northern Sea Route. Three, other important areas for higher cooperation in the coming years are energy partnership, civil nuclear and space cooperation, military and military-technical cooperation, and cooperation in education, and science and technology. Four, cultural cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges will be further promoted proactively through multiple means. A shared motivation is “to promote a more contemporary understanding of both countries.” Five, the two nations accept “the importance of reinvigorating multilateralism” and enhancing cooperation relating to the UN and numerous other multilateral organizations and groupings of which they are members. Notably, Russia reiterated its “steadfast support” for India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council. India’s expression of support for Russia’s ongoing presidency of BRICS implies that the two sides should be able to narrow/eliminate their differences on the expansion issue. The leaders stressed that as “major powers” India and Russia will continue “to strive for global peace in a multipolar world.” Assessment As was expected, Ukraine cast a shadow on the discussions in Moscow. The missile attack on a hospital in Kyiv and the killing of Ukrainian children on the day the summit began, created an awkward situation for the Indian side. Referring to the Modi-Putin meeting, President Volodymyr Zelensky observed, “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.” Despite this, India clearly conveyed its considered view to Russia that solutions to conflicts could not be found on the battlefield and that the only pathway was through dialogue and diplomacy. The agreed goal to re-double efforts to expand and deepen bilateral economic cooperation makes much sense. An increase in trade rather than mere balancing is the desired way forward. However, governments will need to motivate and encourage business and industry to subscribe to this goal optimally. Finally, on the strategic and diplomatic side, Russia has been somewhat wary about the deepening cooperation between India and the US, just as India has shown concern about the growing proximity between Russia and China. The Moscow summit indicates that the response by India and Russia to this complex phenomenon is to impart more substance and new momentum to their bilateral relations. From New Delhi’s perspective, the Moscow summit reflected India's ‘strategic autonomy’ in full play.

The Moscow summit: India-Russia relations march ahead 

A fresh batch of Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) has reached India, The Print reported citing defence sources. As per the report, the Indian Army received 24 Igla-S MANPADS, which were accompanied by 100 missiles. This delivery is said to be a part of a larger procurement deal, which will also include domestic production in India reportedly under a Russian licence.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that the recent delivery is a larger order, as compared to, the induction of a very small number, around 24 launchers and 216 missiles, of Igla-S as part of emergency procurement in 2021. &nbsp;

Igla-S is a hand-held anti-aircraft missile, which can bolster Indian Army's combat capability in various sensitive locations. It can be fired by an individual or crew in order to bring down an enemy aircraft.&nbsp;

The report also mentioned that the rest of these systems will be made in India through Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-rescues-80-people-stranded-amid-snowfall-in-ladakh-708713">Indian Army rescues 80 people stranded amid snowfall in Ladakh</a>&nbsp;

Igla-S is expected to strengthen Indian Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities. The sources also told the media outlet that one regiment has received these systems, and a few more will get them soon.&nbsp;

Last year in November, Russian state news agency TASS quoted a top arms export official to confirm that the contract was signed, according to which&nbsp;120 launchers and 400 missiles were to be supplied to India.

As quoted in November's report, Alexander Mikheyev, who is the head of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said, "We have already signed the corresponding document and now, together with an Indian private company, we are organising the production of Igla-S MANPADS in India."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-coast-guard-rescues-27-bangladeshi-fishermen-during-patrol-708145">Indian Coast Guard rescues 27 Bangladeshi fishermen during patrol</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;India mulls expansion of NavIC satellite range&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-mulls-expansion-of-navic-satellite-range-708963/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In November, another Russian state news agency, RIA, quoted Mikheyev earlier as saying that "Rosoboronexport is working with Indian private and public enterprises to organise joint production of aviation weapons and integrate them into the existing aviation fleet in India". It didn't reveal the name of the Indian company.&nbsp;

India enjoys friendly relations with Russia, including notable deals about arms and weapons among other bilateral agreements.&nbsp;In a report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that&nbsp;India's arms imports increased by 4.7 per cent between 2014–2018 and 2019–2023, with&nbsp;Russia retaining&nbsp;main-arms-supplier status, accounting for 36 per cent of its arms imports. However, some experts have said that an increase in imports is concerning amid the push for the "Make-in-India" initiative.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A fresh batch of Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) has reached India, The Print reported citing defence sources. As per the report, the Indian Army received 24 Igla-S MANPADS, which were accompanied by 100 missiles.

A fresh batch of Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) has reached India, The Print reported citing defence sources. As per the report, the Indian Army received 24 Igla-S MANPADS, which were accompanied by 100 missiles. This delivery is said to be a part of a larger procurement deal, which will also include domestic production in India reportedly under a Russian licence. The report mentioned that the recent delivery is a larger order, as compared to, the induction of a very small number, around 24 launchers and 216 missiles, of Igla-S as part of emergency procurement in 2021. Igla-S is a hand-held anti-aircraft missile, which can bolster Indian Army's combat capability in various sensitive locations. It can be fired by an individual or crew in order to bring down an enemy aircraft. The report also mentioned that the rest of these systems will be made in India through Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia. Also read: Indian Army rescues 80 people stranded amid snowfall in Ladakh Igla-S is expected to strengthen Indian Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities. The sources also told the media outlet that one regiment has received these systems, and a few more will get them soon. Last year in November, Russian state news agency TASS quoted a top arms export official to confirm that the contract was signed, according to which 120 launchers and 400 missiles were to be supplied to India. As quoted in November's report, Alexander Mikheyev, who is the head of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said, "We have already signed the corresponding document and now, together with an Indian private company, we are organising the production of Igla-S MANPADS in India." Also read: Indian Coast Guard rescues 27 Bangladeshi fishermen during patrol Watch: India mulls expansion of NavIC satellite range × In November, another Russian state news agency, RIA, quoted Mikheyev earlier as saying that "Rosoboronexport is working with Indian private and public enterprises to organise joint production of aviation weapons and integrate them into the existing aviation fleet in India". It didn't reveal the name of the Indian company. India enjoys friendly relations with Russia, including notable deals about arms and weapons among other bilateral agreements. In a report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that India's arms imports increased by 4.7 per cent between 2014–2018 and 2019–2023, with Russia retaining main-arms-supplier status, accounting for 36 per cent of its arms imports. However, some experts have said that an increase in imports is concerning amid the push for the "Make-in-India" initiative. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Army receives fresh batch of Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles from Russia: Report

Underscoring the stability of India's relations with Russia despite the challenges in the world today, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar cautioned against reducing the ties solely to New Delhi's defence dependencies.&nbsp;Speaking at an event in Delhi, the foreign minister highlighted the long-standing importance India has placed on its relationship with Russia.&nbsp; Jaishankar also noted the positive trajectory in the economic aspects of the bilateral ties between the two nations.

During the event, Jaishankar said, "Our relations with Russia have been kept steady despite all turbulence. We have made our own evaluation over the years regarding the importance of this. It is a mistake to dumb down ties with Russia to just defence dependences. We have an upswing in the economic part of our relations with Russia."&nbsp;

<h2>India-China relations</h2>

Jaishankar also acknowledged the challenges in India's relationship with China, highlighting the need for a high degree of mutuality and respect for each other's interests and agreements.&nbsp;He stated that the current difficult phase is a result of a departure from the agreements previously reached.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-dhruv-advanced-light-helicopter-safety-flaws-addressed-says-report-609658">India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report</a>

"China has been a difficult swing, it's a big neighbour, but at the end of the day any relations have to be based on a high degree of mutuality, there has to be respect for each other's interests and adherence to agreements reached between us &amp; it is that departure from what was agreed between us which is today at the heart of the difficult phase that we are passing through with China," Jaishankar said adding, "At the end of the day, the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship. And the state of the border today is still abnormal..."

<h2>Strong ties with the United States</h2>

Addressing the polarised global landscape, Jaishankar expressed that India's relations with the United States are "exceptionally well."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-police-allow-quran-burning-protest-outside-stockholms-main-mosque-609615">Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque</a>

He described the recent US visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most productive in history, indicating the deepening collaboration between the two countries.&nbsp;

"We have moved into a positive domain with the US for shaping the world for common purposes. The attention being given to Europe is remarkable...big issue before us is concluding the free trade agreement, but we are more hopeful than we have been in past," the EAM added while speaking on India-US ties.&nbsp;

<h2>Concerns regarding India-Canada relations</h2>

Regarding India's relations with Canada, Jaishankar expressed disappointment, suggesting that Canadian policies seem to be driven by vote-bank politics.&nbsp;

"If there are activities in Canada that impinge on our national security &amp; integrity, then we will have to respond. You can see that this has impacted our ties in many ways in the last few years," Jaishankar said.&nbsp;

Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/concert-economics-explained-the-craze-for-high-profile-concerts-609647/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This comes after a tableau celebrating the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was paraded in Brampton on June 4.&nbsp;

<h2>India-Pakistan relations</h2>

At the event, Jaishankar also stressed that discussions with Pakistan cannot be based on a foundation of cross-border terrorism.&nbsp;

On Pakistan, he said, "We can’t allow terrorism to be normalised, we can not allow that to become a basis to come in discussion with Pakistan. Until there is a departure from the abbreviation of policy of cross-border terrorism, it is not possible to have normal relationship..."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Underscoring the stability of India's relations with Russia despite the challenges in the world today, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar cautioned against reducing the ties solely to New Delhi's defence dependencies.

Underscoring the stability of India's relations with Russia despite the challenges in the world today, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar cautioned against reducing the ties solely to New Delhi's defence dependencies. Speaking at an event in Delhi, the foreign minister highlighted the long-standing importance India has placed on its relationship with Russia. Jaishankar also noted the positive trajectory in the economic aspects of the bilateral ties between the two nations. During the event, Jaishankar said, "Our relations with Russia have been kept steady despite all turbulence. We have made our own evaluation over the years regarding the importance of this. It is a mistake to dumb down ties with Russia to just defence dependences. We have an upswing in the economic part of our relations with Russia." India-China relations Jaishankar also acknowledged the challenges in India's relationship with China, highlighting the need for a high degree of mutuality and respect for each other's interests and agreements. He stated that the current difficult phase is a result of a departure from the agreements previously reached. Also Read | India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report "China has been a difficult swing, it's a big neighbour, but at the end of the day any relations have to be based on a high degree of mutuality, there has to be respect for each other's interests and adherence to agreements reached between us & it is that departure from what was agreed between us which is today at the heart of the difficult phase that we are passing through with China," Jaishankar said adding, "At the end of the day, the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship. And the state of the border today is still abnormal..." Strong ties with the United States Addressing the polarised global landscape, Jaishankar expressed that India's relations with the United States are "exceptionally well." Also Read | Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque He described the recent US visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most productive in history, indicating the deepening collaboration between the two countries. "We have moved into a positive domain with the US for shaping the world for common purposes. The attention being given to Europe is remarkable...big issue before us is concluding the free trade agreement, but we are more hopeful than we have been in past," the EAM added while speaking on India-US ties. Concerns regarding India-Canada relations Regarding India's relations with Canada, Jaishankar expressed disappointment, suggesting that Canadian policies seem to be driven by vote-bank politics. "If there are activities in Canada that impinge on our national security & integrity, then we will have to respond. You can see that this has impacted our ties in many ways in the last few years," Jaishankar said. Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts × This comes after a tableau celebrating the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was paraded in Brampton on June 4. India-Pakistan relations At the event, Jaishankar also stressed that discussions with Pakistan cannot be based on a foundation of cross-border terrorism. On Pakistan, he said, "We can’t allow terrorism to be normalised, we can not allow that to become a basis to come in discussion with Pakistan. Until there is a departure from the abbreviation of policy of cross-border terrorism, it is not possible to have normal relationship..." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Jaishankar says depth of India-Russia relations goes beyond defence dependencies

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi have stood strong against "colonial practices like unilateral sanctions" as he held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 1).&nbsp;

The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow and New Delhi are consistent opponents of neo-colonial practices such as illegal unilateral sanctions, threats, blackmail and other forms of pressure on sovereign states.&nbsp;

Lavrov spoke at the opening ceremony of the Tolstoy-Gandhi exhibition in New Delhi a day before attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the Indian national capital.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uk-raises-issue-of-bbc-tax-searches-heres-what-india-said-5-points-567247">UK raises issue of BBC tax searches. Here's what India said - 5 points</a>

The two ministers discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and other issues of mutual interest. They also talked about the G20 foreign ministers' meeting.&nbsp;

Lavrov said that this year India and Russia will mark two events of significance to both Russia and India, which is the 195th birth anniversary of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and the 75th anniversary of the tragic death of Mahatma Gandhi.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;G20 challenge: Reaching a consensus on Ukraine&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-g20-challenge-reaching-a-consensus-on-ukraine-567358/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Lavrov said, "It is becoming increasingly important now to study the rich legacy of our countries' public figures and moral leaders. We appreciate the substantial creative potential of India's G20 Presidency and its theme on the unity of nations and common future for humanity, which resonates with the philosophy of Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi."&nbsp;

He added that India and Russia&nbsp;have been consistently advocating "respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern world and the inalienable right of nations to independently choose their development paths".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi have stood strong against "colonial practices like unilateral sanctions" as he held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 1).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi have stood strong against "colonial practices like unilateral sanctions" as he held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 1). The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow and New Delhi are consistent opponents of neo-colonial practices such as illegal unilateral sanctions, threats, blackmail and other forms of pressure on sovereign states. Lavrov spoke at the opening ceremony of the Tolstoy-Gandhi exhibition in New Delhi a day before attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the Indian national capital. ALSO READ | UK raises issue of BBC tax searches. Here's what India said - 5 points The two ministers discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and other issues of mutual interest. They also talked about the G20 foreign ministers' meeting. Lavrov said that this year India and Russia will mark two events of significance to both Russia and India, which is the 195th birth anniversary of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and the 75th anniversary of the tragic death of Mahatma Gandhi. WATCH | G20 challenge: Reaching a consensus on Ukraine × Lavrov said, "It is becoming increasingly important now to study the rich legacy of our countries' public figures and moral leaders. We appreciate the substantial creative potential of India's G20 Presidency and its theme on the unity of nations and common future for humanity, which resonates with the philosophy of Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi." He added that India and Russia have been consistently advocating "respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern world and the inalienable right of nations to independently choose their development paths". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lavrov says India and Russia stand strong against 'colonial practices like unilateral sanctions'

The visiting Russian deputy foreign minister&nbsp;Sergey Vershinin has said that India and Russia share the same position on Afghanistan and its "premature" to recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. FM&nbsp;Vershinin&nbsp;was in Delhi for consultations on United Nations and held meetings with Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs&nbsp;Reenat Sandhu and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla.&nbsp;

In comments released by the Russian embassy in Delhi,&nbsp;Vershinin&nbsp;said, "Russian and Indian stances [on Afghanistan] are similar and identical in many respects. They boil down to the fact that now it is premature to talk about recognizing the current government in Kabul.". With the Taliban takeover of Kabul, Russia is worried over a spillover impact in central Asian countries. Russia shares close ties with all 5 central Asian countries, 3 of which--Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan share a land border with Afghanistan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-briefs-india-on-russias-military-build-up-on-ukraine-border-446081">Also read |&nbsp;US briefs India on Russia's military 'build-up' on Ukraine border</a>

Vershinin&nbsp;called on the "&nbsp;Afghan leadership to fulfill the obligations they have assumed, especially with regard to the inclusivity of the government and with regard to other measures, including in the human rights area." With the Taliban at the helm in Kabul, reports of human rights violations have been coming out especially women activists being abducted. Another big worry has been a non-inclusive government, which doesn't give full representation to other ethnic groups of the country.&nbsp;

On humanitarian support to Afghanistan, the minister said that "it&nbsp;is clear that humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people should be provided, and it is being provided by both us and India." India has so far sent four&nbsp;batches of medical assistance to Afghanistan which have been handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul. It plans to soon send much-needed wheat to the country which will be sent via Afghan trucks using Pakistani territory.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-russia-sign-pact-for-ak-203-rifles-renew-military-cooperation-for-10-years-434504">Also read |&nbsp;India, Russia sign pact for AK-203 rifles, renew military cooperation for 10-years&nbsp;</a>

Talks in Delhi also focused on the crisis in Ukraine, and discussion on Syria, Libya, and Myanmar. Over the situation in eastern Europe, Minister&nbsp;Vershinin said,&nbsp;&nbsp;"we informed the Indian Side about our point of view about what is going on around Ukraine and on the tensions fanned by the Western nations, NATO and the United States". Calling for "strategic stability in this area", the minister pointed that, "Russia has repeatedly voiced its point of view publicly, and we once again communicated it to the Indian friends."

Russia has made it clear that Ukraine should not join the Nato alliance for which it has called on the west to give "security guarantees". A number of rounds of discussion have happened between US and Russia in Geneva, including one between US Secretary of state Blinken and Russian FM Lavrov. On Monday, the matter was brought to UNSC by the US and during a procedural vote on if the issue should be raised at the high table, India abstained. India, along with Gabon and Kenya abstained but US was able to get 10 votes all in all and matter came up for discussion.

UN consultations were the key focus during the Delhi visit, given Russia takes over as the President of the council on 1st&nbsp;February. Russian minister explained in his comments, "I can say that these consultations confirmed the desire of both India and Russia to strengthen coordination and interaction on major international issues, including on international platforms - in New York, Geneva and Paris, within the UNESCO. This is what we felt." India is a non-permanent member of the council till December 2022.

Combating terrorism and climate change also came up during Monday's discussion.&nbsp;Vershinin's visit is the first government-level in-person visit to Delhi this year from Russia. This year will see Indian PM Modi visiting Russia for the annual India Russia summit. On&nbsp;​December 6th, Russian President Putin had visited Delhi for the annual summit.&nbsp;

The visiting Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Vershinin has said that India and Russia share the same position on Afghanistan and its "premature" to recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

The visiting Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Vershinin has said that India and Russia share the same position on Afghanistan and its "premature" to recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. FM Vershinin was in Delhi for consultations on United Nations and held meetings with Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Reenat Sandhu and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla. In comments released by the Russian embassy in Delhi, Vershinin said, "Russian and Indian stances [on Afghanistan] are similar and identical in many respects. They boil down to the fact that now it is premature to talk about recognizing the current government in Kabul.". With the Taliban takeover of Kabul, Russia is worried over a spillover impact in central Asian countries. Russia shares close ties with all 5 central Asian countries, 3 of which--Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan share a land border with Afghanistan. Also read | US briefs India on Russia's military 'build-up' on Ukraine border Vershinin called on the " Afghan leadership to fulfill the obligations they have assumed, especially with regard to the inclusivity of the government and with regard to other measures, including in the human rights area." With the Taliban at the helm in Kabul, reports of human rights violations have been coming out especially women activists being abducted. Another big worry has been a non-inclusive government, which doesn't give full representation to other ethnic groups of the country. On humanitarian support to Afghanistan, the minister said that "it is clear that humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people should be provided, and it is being provided by both us and India." India has so far sent four batches of medical assistance to Afghanistan which have been handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul. It plans to soon send much-needed wheat to the country which will be sent via Afghan trucks using Pakistani territory. Also read | India, Russia sign pact for AK-203 rifles, renew military cooperation for 10-years Talks in Delhi also focused on the crisis in Ukraine, and discussion on Syria, Libya, and Myanmar. Over the situation in eastern Europe, Minister Vershinin said, "we informed the Indian Side about our point of view about what is going on around Ukraine and on the tensions fanned by the Western nations, NATO and the United States". Calling for "strategic stability in this area", the minister pointed that, "Russia has repeatedly voiced its point of view publicly, and we once again communicated it to the Indian friends." Russia has made it clear that Ukraine should not join the Nato alliance for which it has called on the west to give "security guarantees". A number of rounds of discussion have happened between US and Russia in Geneva, including one between US Secretary of state Blinken and Russian FM Lavrov. On Monday, the matter was brought to UNSC by the US and during a procedural vote on if the issue should be raised at the high table, India abstained. India, along with Gabon and Kenya abstained but US was able to get 10 votes all in all and matter came up for discussion. UN consultations were the key focus during the Delhi visit, given Russia takes over as the President of the council on 1st February. Russian minister explained in his comments, "I can say that these consultations confirmed the desire of both India and Russia to strengthen coordination and interaction on major international issues, including on international platforms - in New York, Geneva and Paris, within the UNESCO. This is what we felt." India is a non-permanent member of the council till December 2022. Combating terrorism and climate change also came up during Monday's discussion. Vershinin's visit is the first government-level in-person visit to Delhi this year from Russia. This year will see Indian PM Modi visiting Russia for the annual India Russia summit. On December 6th, Russian President Putin had visited Delhi for the annual summit.

India, Russia share same position on Afghanistan, says Deputy FM Vershinin

Russia is hoping to complete free trade agreement between the Eurasian region and India in the year 2020, Russian Ambassador to India said on Monday.

Envoy Nikolai Kudashev also said that the leaders of both countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are also expected to meet several times during the year.

"We are hopeful of completing the free trade agreement between the Eurasian region and India in the year 2020. We will also make progress in defence cooperation with greater possibilities of joint cooperation and localisation."

"India and Russia are starting a new level of energy security partnership with lucrative opportunity for Indian companies in the Russian arctic. Hoping for early conclusion of Eurasian-India next year," Kudashev also said.

Russia and India have been taking steps to improve their bilateral relations.&nbsp;

In September this year, PM Modi met President Putin in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok during the 20th India Russia annual summit.

During that summit, key announcements were made on energy and a proposal has been made to have a full-fledged maritime route that serves as a link between Chennai and Vladivostok.

Describing Russia as a friend and a nation that has supported India, the Prime Minister had&nbsp;said that Russia has personally given importance to bolstering its strategic partnership with India.

Both sides agreed on a five-year road map in the energy sector with focus on Indian investment in Russian oil fields and transportation of energy to India and Russian investment in the downstream energy sector in India.&nbsp;

In November as well, both leaders had held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia is hoping to complete free trade agreement between the Eurasian region and India in the year 2020, Russian Ambassador to India said on Monday. Envoy Nikolai Kudashev also said that the leaders of both countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are also expected to meet several times during the year.

Russia is hoping to complete free trade agreement between the Eurasian region and India in the year 2020, Russian Ambassador to India said on Monday. Envoy Nikolai Kudashev also said that the leaders of both countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are also expected to meet several times during the year. "We are hopeful of completing the free trade agreement between the Eurasian region and India in the year 2020. We will also make progress in defence cooperation with greater possibilities of joint cooperation and localisation." "India and Russia are starting a new level of energy security partnership with lucrative opportunity for Indian companies in the Russian arctic. Hoping for early conclusion of Eurasian-India next year," Kudashev also said. Russia and India have been taking steps to improve their bilateral relations. In September this year, PM Modi met President Putin in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok during the 20th India Russia annual summit. During that summit, key announcements were made on energy and a proposal has been made to have a full-fledged maritime route that serves as a link between Chennai and Vladivostok. Describing Russia as a friend and a nation that has supported India, the Prime Minister had said that Russia has personally given importance to bolstering its strategic partnership with India. Both sides agreed on a five-year road map in the energy sector with focus on Indian investment in Russian oil fields and transportation of energy to India and Russian investment in the downstream energy sector in India. In November as well, both leaders had held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. (With inputs from agencies)

'We hope to complete free trade agreement between Eurasia, India in 2020', says Russia envoy

Russia has truly entered the "great game" in Afghanistan. First, the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-offers-to-help-us-on-afghan-peace-talks-with-taliban-ria-195886"> Putin regime a few days</a> ago hosted the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Moscow, just a few days after the US concluded its Doha talks with the Taliban.

It was an attempt by Russia to show it would not be sidelined in Afghan peace talks even decades after the Soviets left the country humiliated by the jihadists, the forerunner of the Taliban.

Now, Russia has its eyes set on Pakistan. Last year it had signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Pakistan government to discuss ways in which to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan, one of the biggest markets of the gas in the world.

Last Friday, Putin's regime signed a provisional agreement with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/once-spoiler-pakistan-starts-behind-scenes-aid-to-us-taliban-talks-196116">Imran Khan government </a>to allow state-run gas major Gazprom to conduct a "feasibility study" to construct an offshore pipeline to supply natural gas from the Middle East into Pakistan.

Both the LNG project and the latest Gazprom deal have raised eyebrows in Washington with US sanctions underway against Iran.

A few days ago Iran's oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had said the country had accepted a "Russian proposal" to construct a sub-sea pipeline for exporting natural gas to India. The pipeline would link Gujarat to the Guly of Oman through the Indian Ocean.

The Russia-Iran-India pipeline would reportedly carry 31.5 million cubic meters gas per day to energy-starved India. Iran's oil minister had said Russia had already reached an "understanding" meaning a MoU on the pipeline last year with preparations underway to get it ready in two years.

Russia was the undisputed power as a natural gas supplier after World War-II, however, it was overtaken by tiny Qatar which became the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

In December last year, Qatar pulled out of OPEC as relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia nosedived and the oil body turned its back on it. Qatar now seeks to increase its natural gas production, a fact not lost on the Russians.

Qatar is currently the largest supplier of LNG to India and is keen to increase its market share in the country. Qatar supplies 8.5 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to India which is 40 per cent of India's energy shipment.

The Putin regime has increasingly played the "energy game" with markets in Europe, however, the Europeans are slowly breaking away from traditional energy sources and moving towards renewables namely solar and wind power. Germany already has a solar policy in place and hopes to exploit its wind turbines as it powers its economy on clean energy, other countries - Norway, Sweden, France hope to follow suit in order to balance climate change with economic concerns.

Security concerns also weigh on Europeans and Americans, after all, Gazprom had cut gas supply to Ukraine after it failed to pay up. The West also fears a re-run of the oil crisis in the 70s when OPEC had cut oil supply to the US, UK, Canada, the Netherlands and other countries due to its support for Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict in which the Arab coalition forces were soundly beaten by PM Golda Meir's military.

As the "cold war" continues between the West and Russia over a whole host of issues from arms race, the alleged poisoning of a Russian agent in the UK at Salisbury, as a result, the trio of Trump, May and Macron don't want to take any chances.

According to the &nbsp;International Energy Agency(IAEA), in 2016, the share of LNG's share in the global gas market was a remarkable of 42 per cent which is expected to reach 53 per cent by 2040 even as Europe's production halves in the same period. In order to ensure energy security, the US has now entered the LNG market in a big way as it does not want to cede ground to the Russians in the "great game".

Europe is Gazprom's biggest market with record exports reached last year. Russia has been dependent on its oil and gas reserves to service its debt and power its economy since the Soviet era, the dynamic is not going to change anytime soon.&nbsp;

Asia-Pacific headed by China and India now presents the biggest natural gas market in the world. The region currently accounts for 72 per cent of global LNG demand, Putin, therefore, is making every effort to open "gas channels" in India and hopefully involve China, Pakistan's biggest ally in the region. In the future, an India-Pakistan-China gas pipeline powered by Russia cannot be discounted.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Russia has truly entered the "great game" in Afghanistan. First, the Putin regime a few days ago hosted the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Moscow, just a few days after the US concluded its Doha talks with the Taliban.

Russia has truly entered the "great game" in Afghanistan. First, the Putin regime a few days ago hosted the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Moscow, just a few days after the US concluded its Doha talks with the Taliban. It was an attempt by Russia to show it would not be sidelined in Afghan peace talks even decades after the Soviets left the country humiliated by the jihadists, the forerunner of the Taliban. Now, Russia has its eyes set on Pakistan. Last year it had signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Pakistan government to discuss ways in which to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan, one of the biggest markets of the gas in the world. Last Friday, Putin's regime signed a provisional agreement with the Imran Khan government to allow state-run gas major Gazprom to conduct a "feasibility study" to construct an offshore pipeline to supply natural gas from the Middle East into Pakistan. Both the LNG project and the latest Gazprom deal have raised eyebrows in Washington with US sanctions underway against Iran. A few days ago Iran's oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had said the country had accepted a "Russian proposal" to construct a sub-sea pipeline for exporting natural gas to India. The pipeline would link Gujarat to the Guly of Oman through the Indian Ocean. The Russia-Iran-India pipeline would reportedly carry 31.5 million cubic meters gas per day to energy-starved India. Iran's oil minister had said Russia had already reached an "understanding" meaning a MoU on the pipeline last year with preparations underway to get it ready in two years. Russia was the undisputed power as a natural gas supplier after World War-II, however, it was overtaken by tiny Qatar which became the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. In December last year, Qatar pulled out of OPEC as relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia nosedived and the oil body turned its back on it. Qatar now seeks to increase its natural gas production, a fact not lost on the Russians. Qatar is currently the largest supplier of LNG to India and is keen to increase its market share in the country. Qatar supplies 8.5 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to India which is 40 per cent of India's energy shipment. The Putin regime has increasingly played the "energy game" with markets in Europe, however, the Europeans are slowly breaking away from traditional energy sources and moving towards renewables namely solar and wind power. Germany already has a solar policy in place and hopes to exploit its wind turbines as it powers its economy on clean energy, other countries - Norway, Sweden, France hope to follow suit in order to balance climate change with economic concerns. Security concerns also weigh on Europeans and Americans, after all, Gazprom had cut gas supply to Ukraine after it failed to pay up. The West also fears a re-run of the oil crisis in the 70s when OPEC had cut oil supply to the US, UK, Canada, the Netherlands and other countries due to its support for Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict in which the Arab coalition forces were soundly beaten by PM Golda Meir's military. As the "cold war" continues between the West and Russia over a whole host of issues from arms race, the alleged poisoning of a Russian agent in the UK at Salisbury, as a result, the trio of Trump, May and Macron don't want to take any chances. According to the International Energy Agency(IAEA), in 2016, the share of LNG's share in the global gas market was a remarkable of 42 per cent which is expected to reach 53 per cent by 2040 even as Europe's production halves in the same period. In order to ensure energy security, the US has now entered the LNG market in a big way as it does not want to cede ground to the Russians in the "great game". Europe is Gazprom's biggest market with record exports reached last year. Russia has been dependent on its oil and gas reserves to service its debt and power its economy since the Soviet era, the dynamic is not going to change anytime soon. Asia-Pacific headed by China and India now presents the biggest natural gas market in the world. The region currently accounts for 72 per cent of global LNG demand, Putin, therefore, is making every effort to open "gas channels" in India and hopefully involve China, Pakistan's biggest ally in the region. In the future, an India-Pakistan-China gas pipeline powered by Russia cannot be discounted. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Great game-II: India-Pakistan-China gas pipeline powered by Russia cannot be discounted

Last weekend was Vladimir Putin&#39;s 65th birthday. Now it&#39;s not germane to this piece whether he cut a cake, danced or made history by drinking vodka (Putin is a teetotaller). The news genre requires a peg to hang a story on and the reference to his birthday gives us the peg to take this forward, into the realm of India and Russia.

Recall the day India and China agreed to end the standoff on the Doklam Plateau in Bhutan. A day earlier, Russia&#39;s ambassador in Beijing Andrei Denisov said in public, that his country would not take sides in the standoff between India and China.

Denisov&#39;s comments appeared careful and calibrated. He said: &quot;The situation on the India-Chinese border is something we all regret. We think our Chinese and Indian friends can resolve the problem by themselves. We don&#39;t think they need any mediators who can influence their respective positions on the issue.&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Russia is not in Beijing&#39;s pockets, at least not yet.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Russia is not in Beijing's pockets, at least not yet. " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

There may have been some disappointment in India over that studied enunciation of neutrality after all Delhi and Moscow go back a long way. But to be fair to Russia, it&#39;s unusual for any ambassador to be neutral about the country he is serving in. Ambassador Denisov&#39;s remarks are all the more interesting given the pressure he may have been under from his host government, to back them up on Doklam.

The credit here goes not to Denisov but Putin. That statement was interpreted correctly in Delhi&#39;s South Block and provided proof, if any was required, that Russia is not in Beijing&#39;s pockets, at least not yet. Russia watchers in India say Putin has always been bullish about this country, seeing a valued diplomatic and strategic partnership.

The Modi-Putin meeting in St Petersburg four months ago saw agreement on Russia building two more nuclear power reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. At the Xiamen BRICS summit, Russia reportedly played a key role in facilitating the naming of terrorist groups in the final declaration.

The doomsayers may warn that the Delhi-Moscow bilateral is running out of steam but the ground reality doesn&#39;t convey that impression.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The doomsayers may warn that the Delhi-Moscow bilateral is running out of steam but the ground reality doesn&#39;t convey that impression.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The doomsayers may warn that the Delhi-Moscow bilateral is running out of steam but the ground reality doesn't convey that impression." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

India&#39;s indigenous nuclear submarine programme has developed in large part to technology and expertise from Russia; the Akula class attack submarine Chakra is another with one more on the way; earlier there was the Brahmos cruise missile project; plans to acquire the Russian S-400 ballistic missile defence system is moving forward. Russia is well aware that for India, these projects have one enemy in mind, China.

Indian diplomats who have served in Moscow say the problems may lie in the shape Russia&#39;s foreign policy is taking, perhaps due to organisational deficiencies. Putin&#39;s strategic vision seems to lack sufficient back up in terms of human and diplomatic resources, so somewhere down the line things go cold.

Increasingly, the tactical and short-term approach appears to be overtaking the long-term and strategic in Russian foreign policy. Perhaps there&#39;s a reason for this: Russia&#39;s re-emergence in the Arab world on the back of a very successful policy in Syria. This may have even influenced some in Moscow to believe they are now America&#39;s equal. Such thinking could be self-delusion and therefore dangerous.

Russia&#39;s policy in Afghanistan is also strange. There&#39;s every reason why Russia and the US can find common ground there. Both are concerned about radical Islam, drug trafficking and Pakistan&#39;s destabilising role. There&#39;s also no doubt that the US expenditure in men and money helps Russia and India. Yet we find the two superpowers on opposite sides with Russia rubbing shoulders with the Taliban and arming Pakistan. Again, it would seem, the short-term and tactical taking precedence over the strategic and long-term.

But international relations is always dynamic, with Putin in charge, there could be a course correction in time. At this point, it&#39;s not clear if Putin plans to stand for another term during elections early next year. At 65 he shows no signs of slowing down or incapacity.&nbsp;He should be good for another 10 years, good for India too.

Though tactical and short-term approach has marked Russia's foreign policy, President Putin is good for India's interest.

Last weekend was Vladimir Putin's 65th birthday. Now it's not germane to this piece whether he cut a cake, danced or made history by drinking vodka (Putin is a teetotaller). The news genre requires a peg to hang a story on and the reference to his birthday gives us the peg to take this forward, into the realm of India and Russia. Recall the day India and China agreed to end the standoff on the Doklam Plateau in Bhutan. A day earlier, Russia's ambassador in Beijing Andrei Denisov said in public, that his country would not take sides in the standoff between India and China. Denisov's comments appeared careful and calibrated. He said: "The situation on the India-Chinese border is something we all regret. We think our Chinese and Indian friends can resolve the problem by themselves. We don't think they need any mediators who can influence their respective positions on the issue." Russia is not in Beijing's pockets, at least not yet. × There may have been some disappointment in India over that studied enunciation of neutrality after all Delhi and Moscow go back a long way. But to be fair to Russia, it's unusual for any ambassador to be neutral about the country he is serving in. Ambassador Denisov's remarks are all the more interesting given the pressure he may have been under from his host government, to back them up on Doklam. The credit here goes not to Denisov but Putin. That statement was interpreted correctly in Delhi's South Block and provided proof, if any was required, that Russia is not in Beijing's pockets, at least not yet. Russia watchers in India say Putin has always been bullish about this country, seeing a valued diplomatic and strategic partnership. The Modi-Putin meeting in St Petersburg four months ago saw agreement on Russia building two more nuclear power reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. At the Xiamen BRICS summit, Russia reportedly played a key role in facilitating the naming of terrorist groups in the final declaration. The doomsayers may warn that the Delhi-Moscow bilateral is running out of steam but the ground reality doesn't convey that impression. The doomsayers may warn that the Delhi-Moscow bilateral is running out of steam but the ground reality doesn't convey that impression. × India's indigenous nuclear submarine programme has developed in large part to technology and expertise from Russia; the Akula class attack submarine Chakra is another with one more on the way; earlier there was the Brahmos cruise missile project; plans to acquire the Russian S-400 ballistic missile defence system is moving forward. Russia is well aware that for India, these projects have one enemy in mind, China. Indian diplomats who have served in Moscow say the problems may lie in the shape Russia's foreign policy is taking, perhaps due to organisational deficiencies. Putin's strategic vision seems to lack sufficient back up in terms of human and diplomatic resources, so somewhere down the line things go cold. Increasingly, the tactical and short-term approach appears to be overtaking the long-term and strategic in Russian foreign policy. Perhaps there's a reason for this: Russia's re-emergence in the Arab world on the back of a very successful policy in Syria. This may have even influenced some in Moscow to believe they are now America's equal. Such thinking could be self-delusion and therefore dangerous. Russia's policy in Afghanistan is also strange. There's every reason why Russia and the US can find common ground there. Both are concerned about radical Islam, drug trafficking and Pakistan's destabilising role. There's also no doubt that the US expenditure in men and money helps Russia and India. Yet we find the two superpowers on opposite sides with Russia rubbing shoulders with the Taliban and arming Pakistan. Again, it would seem, the short-term and tactical taking precedence over the strategic and long-term. But international relations is always dynamic, with Putin in charge, there could be a course correction in time. At this point, it's not clear if Putin plans to stand for another term during elections early next year. At 65 he shows no signs of slowing down or incapacity. He should be good for another 10 years, good for India too.

With Putin in power, India-Russia relations will prosper

india-russia-relations

India Russia Relations, News on India Russia Relations, stories on India Russia Relations, articles on India Russia Relations, India Russia Relations stories at Wion, India Russia Relations news, India Russia Relations latest news

india russia-relations

'Trying to ban India...': Moscow's BIG allegation on US amid uncertainty over Russian oil purchase after Washington's trade deal

India–Russia Summit 2025: How Soviet's UN support helped India liberate Goa

India–Russia summit: When USSR helped India in the war against Pakistan in 1971

Putin visits India: 7 decades of UNBROKEN India - Russia ties - A total recall

SCO summit 2025: PM Modi- President Putin hold bilateral talks on sidelines

Indian manpower needed? Russia to hire Indians amid need of skilled workers

Will buy oil from wherever we get 'best deal': India hits back at Trump tariffs

Indian EAM S Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow amid Trump’s tariff threats

'India not biggest buyer of Russian oil': Jaishankar hits back at Trump tariff

India-Russia relations 'most stable': Jaishankar meets Lavrov in Moscow

India-Russia trade imbalance soared nine times: Indian EAM Jaishankar

India's oil purchase from Russia funding Ukraine war? Trump's aide claims

The Heart of the Matter: Ukrainian Engines Drove INS Tamal to India, Not Russia